Cultivated hybrid (nursery-bred, not a wild species); parent stock from tropical South America
Overview
Fancy Twist sword is a twisted-leaf oddball that works best as a midground specimen, where its curling leaves stand out. It is a plant of medium difficulty.
Did you know
The corkscrew leaves of Fancy Twist sword come from the same spiral-growth mutation that makes 'Vesuvius' famous. Each leaf coils like a ribbon instead of lying flat.
Caring for Fancy Twist sword
Plant Fancy Twist sword in a nutrient-rich substrate with root tabs, and keep the crown clear of the substrate. Iron keeps the leaves from yellowing and brings out the red tones. It also feeds through its leaves, so a liquid fertilizer helps.
It tolerates low-tech tanks, with slower and greener growth. Medium to high light plus CO2 gives faster growth and stronger color. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), a pH of 6 to 7.5 and 2 to 15 dGH.
Trim tired outer leaves to keep the rosette tidy. New plants come from side shoots and from plantlets, which can be cut free once they have a few roots.
Good to know
Fancy Twist sword is a named cultivar in the family Alismataceae. It has no botanical binomial, so it is sold under a quoted name. Its leaves are broad and lanceolate. Their color ranges through light green, bronze and deep blood-red, depending on light and feeding.
In the wild
Fancy Twist sword is a hybridcultivar with no wild population. Its Echinodorus ancestry comes from the marshes and slow, seasonally flooded waters of tropical South America. There, swords grow rooted in rich mud and often emerge above the surface.
Common questions
Does Fancy Twist sword need to be planted in the substrate?
Yes. Bury the roots and leave the crown, where the leaves join, just above the substrate.
Does Fancy Twist sword need CO2?
No, but it helps. Fancy Twist sword can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.
How much light does Fancy Twist sword need?
Fancy Twist sword wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.
Does Fancy Twist sword need root tabs?
They help. Fancy Twist sword takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.
How do you propagate Fancy Twist sword?
Fancy Twist sword propagates by side shoots and plantlets. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own. Small plantlets form on the plant and can be detached once they have a few roots.
How tall does Fancy Twist sword grow?
Fancy Twist sword grows to about 15.7 in (40 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.
Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)